Evidence of meeting #45 for Health in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was asked.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Liberal
Susan Kadis Liberal Thornhill, ON
I'd just like you to clarify or elaborate on why the camera was needed at an in camera meeting.
As an Individual
I had asked for the camera earlier for something else. Steven had left the meeting earlier to meet with the mayor of Vancouver, and I had asked for a camera, but by the time she came in, he had come back. Everybody had left. We showed it....
But there were no pictures taken. I can guarantee that. She left with no information from the committee. She had no documentation--nothing.
Liberal
Susan Kadis Liberal Thornhill, ON
In responding to that response, I think it's important to clarify this with the person representing our whip's office, who had perceived that a picture had been taken. I think that's a very important part of the process as well, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
That's fair enough. There was no picture taken. That's the testimony of the two people here. There's actually no rule about whether you can bring a camera into a room; you can't use it in here during an in camera meeting.
Go ahead, Mr. Fletcher, very quickly. I don't want to draw this out any longer.
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
This is actually outrageous. I'm very disappointed in the colleagues. This could have been dealt with very easily. We were just in the House together an hour ago. You could have come and talked to me then, or you could have called me. If there was--
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
A letter has gone off to the Speaker. You could have talked to anyone on this side of the House to clarify. To make this accusation is--
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
It is an accusation, and a false accusation. You guys--
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
I'm sorry, but Mr. Chairperson, what has clearly happened here is that the members of the opposition thought they had some sort of scenario--
Liberal
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
Well, you made that accusation on our side not five minutes ago. I am really disappointed in a former minister of the Crown. To attack an employee on no basis--
Conservative
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
—and you were wrong. You were wrong and you should be ashamed of yourselves.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Mr. Fletcher, fair enough.
Listen, we're going to have this back and forth, and I'm not going to put up with any more accusations of any other motives.
We wanted to just bring the facts out. We have the witnesses at the end of the table. I will not allow any talk back and forth, and this is going to be drawn to a conclusion very quickly.
Ms. Bennett, very quickly.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Chair, and to the clerk, I would hope this wasn't seen as an accusation. It was a clarification, and there was the fact that there was a query.
We weren't in the room at the time. There were three different people who saw what looked like a picture being taken, because the camera was held up. There were three people who reported this to us.
We weren't here. We wanted you and the clerk to investigate it, and that's it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Okay. We've done that and we have the facts on the table, and I think we should move on.
Mr. Dykstra, very quickly.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
The fact is that we don't even know who actually has said that they saw people taking pictures, because none of the members sitting next to the Liberals saw anyone take a picture.